Java Moss V Riccia

[cybortech]

Just read the above thread about these plants and I am looking for a carpet on my tank. I am fairley new to this great hobbie and not sure which one to go for although because of my experience i think i favour Java moss. My lighting is only 2 x 38w, in my vision 260, which i belive is way under 2xwpg also I do not know enough about co2 How important is this in my tank?

Will Java Moss grow okay with my current set up.

I have been told to take the carbon sponge out my filter, does this get replaced with just a normal blue sponge or is it a course blue sponge?

Thanks.

 

[pseud]

Java moss will grow fine, but I think it looks messy as a carpet.

Riccia will grow, but might not pearl, not sure if that's important to you or not.

 

[riverman444]

Java Moss grows pretty well. The only down side I've come across with Java Moss is that it will cling to just about anything, including other plants and filter inlets. I keep a large crop of moss floating around on a piece of cork wood in my 20 gallon and just pluck from it when needed or when it grows too thick.

 

[Themuleous]

Riccia will carpet any place you tie it to, but from what i understand its hard work and is deffinately wont grow in a tank with less than 2WPG. I would go with java moss, cos its hardy and doesb't need any special requirements to grow, this a nice simple easy to grow plant.

It doesn't matter what sponge you replace the carbon with, they both get colonised by the beneficial bacteria and will remove debris, just depends if you need to take a very small paricales, in which case go with a fine sponge.

HTH

S

 

[jimbooo]

hi there, i'm glad you found inspiration in my article. to be honest your probably better off going with java moss in a low loght non co2 tank. riccia gets a little leggy in low light and looses it's cushion type structure in favour of a straggly "reaching for the light" formation. it wont pearl properly either so for the cost of it i wouldn't bother. any it is a lot of work to keep it looking nice over a long period of time.

the floating cork/moss thing mentioned by riverman is a good way to start experimenting with it. it will grow best on the surface (close to the light) and allow you to grow a good crop before setting up the carpet.

 

[cybortech]

Thanks for all the help.

Hopefully in the coming months I will post pics half as good as all yours.